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Harco Empire	By : Toddy Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 34417 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or films. I do not make any money from the writing of this story, just enjoyment.

Chapter List
- 71
- 72
- 73
[Note: conversation =: “speech” & ‘thoughts’ & *telepathy* & #Parseltongue# & {telephone}]
~~~ COURSES ~~~
On Friday evening Filius appeared after dinner was over: “I hope you don’t mind Harry but I hung on to the medallion you lent me. I am the bearer of good news.”
“For the bearer of good news I have no recriminations,” replied Harry, smiling.
“The governors have just finished meeting, at long last. They have given their backing to the Magic for Peace idea. Some of them want to have a practical demonstration, so they’d like to be invited for lunch on Sunday and then a chat before dinner.” Filius looked hopeful.
“Do they know we have it at the local muggle pub?” Draco remarked.
“Yes, some of them are intrigued by the idea of a mixed clientele at the meal and are prepared to pay their whack. They feel that our students should also be learning how to integrate unobtrusively into muggle society and that the village could be a half way stage, so to speak.”
“If they came earlier they could attend church first, we all do. That is our friendly muggles and Dumbledorians. Many of the newly arrived residents came last week.” Harry invited.
“I haven’t been for ages. I better go back and tell them.” Filius looked worn out.
“Why don’t you floo them instead, and then stop over for the weekend,” suggested Draco.
“I’m not on weekend duty so yes thanks. I’ll go and floo Minerva with the idea.”
Five minutes later he rushed out of the front door, returning quarter of an hour later: “I’ve booked them into the Farmer’s Arms; at least those that don’t have relations who have newly moved into the village. They’ll be using the goods-shed to apparate in quite soon, so I’ll go and meet them.”
“I thought you were feeling tired, Filius?”
“I was, but this will get them in line for my Magic of Peace ideas. Once they’re snug I’ll snuggle in, ready to be fresh for them in the morning. I’ll write you a proxy for my vote at the Wizengamot tomorrow. We share the same liberal ideas.”
“Care to join our party, Filius?” Draco held a half mocking smile.
“Some devious Malfoy political ploy, is it?”
“Not really, but a group of likeminded seneschals occasionally have a meal together and discuss ideas.”
“Mmm … That sounds interesting … Count me in. I fancy Minerva and Hamish would be interested, too.”
“Hamish is already part of it.”
“Great … That confirms my interest.” With a renewed spring in his step Filius went out to greet the Governors.
Harry and Draco went to look over their Order Papers once more before going to sleep.
~~~ TRIAL ~~~
On Saturday the first half of the morning meeting was upon domestic items and rescheduling those items deferred from the previous session. After the mid-morning break came Mundungus’s arraignment. He argued that every piece of evidence was a legal sale and numerous items were Accioed from witnesses’ homes to support or refute the charges. The last half of the afternoon session had a pile of stolen items from Number Twelve and Kreacher identifying them as lost objects belonging to House Black. He also could provide proof of purchase, whereas Mundungus in accusing Kreacher of selling them could not produce a single bill of sale. Kreacher, being the Elder Elf was believed over the shady mage. There was no successful conclusion and the members voted to have a Sunday afternoon extra session, in order to finish the trial whilst their muddied minds still remembered all the conflicting evidence. Mundungus looked smug when he was remanded into the Aurors’ keeping.
Draco could sense Harry’s growing annoyance and drew out his lover’s feelings after dinner.
They ended with “… … … And to top it all he got Mad-eye killed.”
“How did he do that, Harry?”
“Oh … Um … I suppose you don’t know about my escape from Privet Drive, do you? Severus had warned us that Voldie knew, so we put up a number of polyjuiced Harrys and … … …”
Harry went on to tell of the escape. That triggered reminiscences from Draco who retold pertinent doings which he had seen in the Dark Lord’s court.
“… … … You ought to put that before the Wizengamot, Lover. It’ll seal Mundungus’s fate, for sure.”
“I’m not sure I want to be that vindictive.”
“So … You hold Mad-eye’s life that cheap, do you. Herms has already told me about the Pink Toad and the locket; plus, the fact that Umbridge had his eye on her office door – that’s gruesome evidence enough.”
“Yes but …”
“… Enough … I’m flooing the Mugwump.”
Harry grimaced and followed his lover downstairs.
With Draco pushing him, Harry told the Wizengamot chief about the circumstances of Mad-eye’s death.
“That’s a new charge to be added to the list,” she replied: “It will have to be properly investigated by the Aurors and evidence noted. Mmm … I think we’ll have to remand him again. Harry, could you and Draco have a session with Mackenzie, please? Say; tomorrow afternoon instead attending the meeting. Ask someone to be your proxy. We’ll sort out some of the confusion and then vote a further adjournment. Much as I hate it we’ll have to have a Monday afternoon session, before the thing goes cold and members forget the evidence.”
“I could give it to Filius, we wielded his earlier.”
“No you couldn’t Harry, he’s with the Governors.”
“Oh yes … So he is … And that’s important too … Um …”
“How about Emmeline or Sturgis? It’d be politically good too; they’d feel you trusted them.”
“Draco’s right, Harry; I know I’m not supposed to take sides, but you’d strengthen your influence, one that I approve of. Don’t quote me on that, though. You have a vote apiece, give them one each; then they won’t feel slighted.”
“Fine … I’ll do it … I’ll floo them now.”
“Just say urgent business, Harry; so that they come fresh to it in the meeting.”
Harry went to another fireplace to make the calls and came back smiling. Meanwhile the Mugwump had disappeared and Draco had used that floo to make an arrangement with Mackenzie.
Totally bushed, two lovers hugged in satisfied slumber.
~~~ PLOTTING ~~~
Mackenzie came to church and shared the village lunch afterwards. Heads down in the cottage’s study, three mages reviewed the story and flooed various ex Phoenixians in order to record their evidence. Draco was intrigued by the unfolding story of the Order moving Harry to safety. Harry was equally interested because, now he could distance himself from the story, he could see how different people’s recollections made up the whole picture – at one time they ported to Hogwarts to have a chat with Severus’s portrait. That was the first time Mackenzie had used a portal and he was surprised at the ease and relative lack of side-effects.
They returned to the cottage’s study and, being so intent, forgot to take a tea break and all about the meeting at the end of the Governors’ inspection.
Six o’clock came and Draco leaned back: “Thanks Mackenzie; that was an enlightening afternoon. It’s made me realise how well respected my partner is. So many people wanted to risk their lives just to see him prevail. It’s still the same, you know; all kinds of people look to him for leadership … Oh! Circe’s Calumny … We were supposed to meet the Governors half an hour ago.”
“Merlin … I’d forgotten too. Now what do we do?”
As if on cue, who but McGonagall walked in: “Auror Mackenzie, do you think you could spare my two professor-seneschals, please?”
“Sorry Minerva!” Draco tried to look penitent.
“Um … Yes!” Harry looked down at his feet.
Mackenzie plastered on a diplomatic smile: “Headmistress McGonagall, my apologies for keeping them beyond time; we had just completed our deliberations; now we have the evidence to present to the Wizengamot tomorrow.”
That earned him relieved looks from the two tutor-professors.
“We have commandeered Hamish’s study, Professors; perhaps you would like to follow me?” Minerva arched her eyebrow in command: “We were slightly late finishing also.”
H: *Now what do we do*?
D: *No worries, Partner. We know what they were supposed to be doing. We can draw out the various skills needed and ensure that Dean, Seamus and Greg get their laurels properly polished*.
During the short walk to Granary Cottage, Harry’s doubts filled his mind and overflowed into Draco’s, so two fairly fearful young tutors faced a roomful of governors. To their surprise, John and Dolores were there. There was a quick-fire session of questions, which the pair tried to field and answer truthfully. Occasionally mind-feeding each other when they became stuck.
“Would you like to say how,” one of the governors asked: “Your tutors-in-charge would be monitored? Especially as you were not watching over them.”
“Tutors-in-charge?” Harry registered surprise.
“We presume that you intend to ask us to supervise the practical courses;” Draco had caught the nuance.
“Yes … That is correct, Professor.”
Harry could feel surprised vibes coming from his lover: “I imagine that they would be put through an equivalent course to the one that we are soon to finish. However, they would need some help in providing a conjoined learning experience … … …”
Continuing, Harry remembered the proper jargon from Augusta’s teaching. He explained about making notes for future lessons, based on the knowledge revealed, the tutor’s expectations based on the agreed curriculum, and the voiced expectations of the students. Draco said that they knew what instruction was being given, and that the slight detachment allowed them to make a better judgement as to what the real situation was, not what the students or teaching-staff thought it was. Harry used an amusing point based on his experience of what was real and what the Ministry said was real; thus illustrating Draco’s point.
There were many more probing questions and it soon became clear that they were to be the people in charge of a Hogwarts auxiliary. Their double act became more polished as the session wound on.
Zandra stood. “Professors, we were a little worried about your trust in others of about the same ages as yourselves to pass on information. However, what we saw in Tutors-to-be Thomas and Finnegan, totally affirmed your trust. Your elfin and goblin instructors were patient and totally down to earth, if you’ll forgive the pun, and have shown us exactly what you meant by equality of races. Your mixed team here, including the muggles is a real example of working together. Two of us managed to sit in on Kreacher’s literacy class and another two joined in the choir music class taken by Professor Holderness. However, what impressed us most was the Headmistress’s report of your careful debriefing of the students after your classes at Hogwarts, and above all the teaching notes which you keep. This skill has already been passed on to your helpers here. We do have one criticism, albeit a small one. We think that the suggestion of using your private abodes as a dormitory for the students, is not in keeping with the standards of Hogwarts ..."
D: *I didn't know we were*.
H: *Seamus did mutter something during the Sermon*.
"... However, if they were offered we would regard them as a temporary measure, until such time as the Tutors and Coach Goyle can make Milkwood Hall into a fitting annex to the academy. We believe that your Blake Educational Trust owns the building and that our proposal would be in line with the Trust’s precepts; of course there would be suitable rental paid for its use. To that end we intend to appropriate four thousand galleons from the Dumbledore bequest to support Coach Goyle’s plans for rebuilding the practical annex to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and more is available to fund the new tutors in their efforts. Elder Kreacher is also being offered a suitable reimbursement for his part in the literacy classes. We were hoping that you could make another portal to link the two establishments; in such a way that students could have ease of access. That is, if you were considering making another one. If not mass apparition would be used to move the students around.”
Throughout Zandra’s speech Harry’s and Draco’s emotions were on a rollercoaster. They were also unsure of who had offered what kind of accommodation and resolved to find out their plans from Dean, Seamus and Gregory.
D: *Things seem to have overtaken us, Harry*.
H: *Um … Yes … Greg did mutter something about camping on the lawn, but I thought that was for our confirmation. I was feeling a bit lost around that time*.
D: *I know what you mean; I was definitely not in touch with reality either. We’ll need to sit down with them afterwards*.
H: *I wonder if George has made another set of Cabinets*.
D: *We’d better ask him afterwards*.
H: *Yes*!
As they sat in absorbed silence Minerva looked at them for some sort of reply.
Luckily for them, Dolores was heard to whisper to John: “What’s a galleon?” and then “How much is it worth?” followed by: “Wow! Twenty thousand pounds just to do up the old house. Get them to help with the school roof.”
Magical ears, being what they were, picked up on the supposedly private conversation eagerly and a gubernatorial huddle took place.
“Headmistress Dolores, would five hundred galleons help towards the repairs?” Zandra asked.
“What? Wow! Erm … That’s two-thousand five-hundred. Oh yes please.”
“There is one stipulation though.”
“Tell me?” Dolores looked anxious.
“That you agree with Headmistress Minerva, the standards needed for student entry into Hogwarts. Now that more magely families are moving into Godric’s Hollow, their offspring will need a good basic educational grounding. On her recommendation any student entering your school and showing magical leanings will earn a suitable support grant, on top of the aforesaid gift. We expect our entry students to be fully literate and numerate before they enter their secondary education; as well as that, they will need grounding in basic Latin.”
John and Dolores had a quiet conference; in which John said he could help with the Latin. They then came to an understanding about the deal with a series of handshakes; agreeing to see to the legal niceties before absolute consent.
Minerva wandered over towards the two recovering professors. “Were you worried about the outcome? I wasn’t, I’d seen your notes from the tests, remember? The Governors had also talked to Augusta about your prowess. I suspect you’d forgotten we were here when you were with the Auror, hadn’t you? No! Don’t answer. It worked out very well, profits from the bequest will pay your tutor’s wages, oh and you get another rise for becoming the supervising Professors. Therefore, yours will be the greatest Draco, thus you will be almost on a par with Harry. Harry will be Supervising Professor and you his assistant. Turn in a decent set of new potions and you’ll get your Masters as well. As you heard, we also intend to offer rent for the use of the buildings and forest. I do hope that the Blake Educational Trust is able to accept this.”
“W-w-what? M-m-me? A f-full p-professor?” The tears now gushed profusely from Draco’s eyes.
“You shouldn’t really be surprised. You may not know it, but through the castle’s magic I have been monitoring both of your progress and giving the Governors a regular report. It’s your efforts that have earned you the rewards, not any misplaced acts of charity or blind faith in He-who-lived-twice. Both your courses are turning out well educated students – some of that is due to the extra care you take with your students and some to the spare time you are prepared to spend tutoring and coaching those who were underachieving and thus bringing them up to the required standards.”
Harry hugged a damp-eyed Draco comfortingly: “I’m sure that the Trust has that kind of condition written in its constitution, Minerva. This week I’ll get Francis to start the legalities with your solicitors. Now … about a new portal … the transit-thaums seem only let us make two a year. We have no real plans for the Beltane one, anything tentative can be put off until Halloween.”
“Very well, shall I let Francis have your new contracts to peruse? I think I may be able to make suggestions for Halloween. There’s still enough space at Hogwarts to accommodate the extras, it would be after next year before dormitories would start to overflow.”
“Please let Francis have the contracts, both personal and for the Trust.”
“Thank you, now I must dash, because there are more revisions to made in the timetable,” Minerva sighed and went out to use the portal.
An amount of handshaking and congratulatory remarks took place, during which Draco regained some of his aplomb.
Shortly the Governors dispersed; so Hamish accompanied Draco and Harry back to the cottage; but he refused to be drawn out about the new arrangements.
Having washed and tidied up. the two professor-supervisors elect went down for dinner. Slightly surprised, they were beckoned over to a large table, set apart from the others. Hamish was there and so were Gregory, Seamus, and Dean as expected; that trio were looking as pleased as punch. Kreacher looked decidedly uncomfortable and so did another goblin sitting next to Justin.
As they sat, Hermione explained: “Blaise and I stood in for you; we knew you were tied up with Mac. I hope you don’t mind?”
Draco chuckled ruefully: “I seem to have got a rise, so I’d better not seem too ungrateful. However, perhaps you can explain what has been arranged and introduce us to our new goblin friend.”
“Sorry you two, that’s my fault,” said Hamish: “Meet Hortulanus Arator, Horrty for short. He’s a protégé of mine who has been showing us various digging charms.”
Said goblin stood and bowed slightly. In a decidedly Scottish accent he said: “Pleased to meet two such famous mages;” then he smiled grimly: “I prefer not to be called shorty or haughty either, please roll the ‘R’.”
Blaise chuckled: “He had me in a Tarantallagra for trying out the first one.”
“Fine … Welcome to the team Horrty,” Harry shook the goblin’s hand: “Now, my team, tell us what we’re going to supervise …”
“… Because McG only hinted at things that the Governors seem to have made definite,” explained Draco.
The table’s occupants all looked at Hermione.
Hermione chuckled: “It was Filly’s enthusiasm that fired them … Now let me see … Dean and Seamus as Practical Tutors, Gregory as Coach/caretaker, Horrty as agricultural tutor and Kreacher as literacy professor. Harry you’re the Supervising Professor with Draco as the Assistant – Rather like Draco’s the assistant House Master, I suppose. Now … A number of short courses over the next term in order to try out ideas; mostly those will be aimed at rebuilding Milkwood Hall, to make it suitable to hold students from September onwards.”
“So that’s what they’ll be renting from the trust, is it?” Draco asked.
“Partly … The wood comes into it … Greg will be the Filch type for the new abode and also act as coach for the combat training area.”
“I shall need your help, Harry,” Gregory looked hopeful: “I think of it as an extension of your DADA course, like you discussed with Draco.”
“Do I suppose Murdoch had something to do with that,” Draco pretended to be exasperated.
“I know that game, Draco, you don’t really mean it. Anyway, yes, Murdoch is helping me in that area, so is Hamish and I hope you two will.”
“Fine … I take it there’s more …”
“We’ve identified a flat area between the greenhouses and the Milkwood Hall’s barn,” put in Seamus: “For the time being there will be a number of tents put up there; magical ones, of course, ter house the students; like Greg arranged on yer lawn for the confirmation.”
H: *So that’s what I half remembered*.
“Some of the time they’ll be with Horrty,” Dean added:” Learning agricultural skills and more of the time with us two refurbishing Milkwood Hall to Greg’s plans. He’s a very skilled draughtsman; you ought to see the detail.”
“I hope we will, quite soon, Greg.” Harry gave him a piercing look.
“They’re still laid out from when the governors looked at them.” Gregory tried to look sheepish, but his pride shone through the subterfuge.
“We’ll have a look now, unless there’s more, Herms?”
Hermione looked enquiringly at Hamish.
“Greg was slightly out about the combat training, but not wholly wrong. I saw it as a team building exercise for new entrants, and then a number of booster weekends. We’d set tasks for a group of students to achieve in competition with another group. Some of those would be combative and all would cross house boundaries; in the way the chess and duelling clubs do. So getting students to value others’ skills and contributions. You’ll have my help there, as well.”
“Thanks, Hamish, anything more?”
Neville had wandered over: “McG’s made me Pomona’s assistant, isn’t that great? I’ll be working alongside Horrty and Murdoch and we hope to have plant recognition courses on the moors. Being this much further south than Hogwarts more things grow naturally here, so what we see in the glasshouses at Hogwarts can be seen growing in their proper environment here. We also need something further south but that’s for later. It’d be useful for Horrty to have a medallion and use the portal, Harry.”
D: *You’d risk being shown as a bigot if you don’t give him one*.
H: *I wasn’t even contemplating the negative*. “Fine … Herms, will you make Horrty one, please? Congratulations Nev, I imagine you’re on the next tutorial course.”
“Too right,” Neville looked pained: “Trouble is; Gran’s taking it. Need I say more?”
“No, she was all right with us, so maybe Dean and Seamus will alleviate some of the pressure. Are you attending also Horrty?”
“No, but Greg is. I already have an equivalent goblin qualification. It’ll be interesting to see where the courses differ and where they’re congruent. Greg’s asked me to help him.”
“Good for you, you can ask us too if you like, Greg.”
“Thanks Harry, I might. Horrty’s more down to earth than you two, you know. We’re going to develop my cartoon book ideas too. Minerva thinks publishing them would be a good side-line and add to my salary. Now … Are you coming to look at my plans? They’re in my place at the Hall. Horrty’s taken my room over at Woodyates, and some of the ruin was habitable, so Dean and Seamus did it up for me.”
Four people wandered off towards Milkwood Hall.
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